"MOTHERS' DAY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 9

"MOTHERS' DAY."

CELEBRATED AT THE Y.M.C.A. .There was a crowded audience of young men in the assembly hall of the Y.Iu.C.A. y-esterday afternoon, when "Mother's i)ay" was celebrated. The general idea of the obsevvanco (which has been brought to this country from America, nnd was honoured last year for the iirst time in Wellington) was explained by the Chairman, -Mr. 11. N. Holmes. The day was being kept in New Zealand and elsewhere, he said, as a world-wido em-' phnsus of the love and reverence men, women and children owe to a good mother. The special object was to honour and uplift motherhood, and to give comfort and happiness to mothers. He asked everyone to express his love for his mother, or her inemory, through somo distinct act of kindness, and to let tho thought of her create the habit of courtesy and chivalry towards all woman-, hcod. As a special tribute, lie urged that each of those present should write that evening to his mother an account of the meeting.

Mr. Oliver Burgess, of the China Inland JFif-sion, who has spent 20 years in North-West China, and been through 1-1 river wrecks, five rebellions, and three, famines, and organised and .superintended tho famine relief works of 1907, delivered an interesting address Ho gave the Chinese word for "mother," and said that he had heard it time after time from tho lips of dying men in the blackest hours of famine and war. It was almost invariably the last word they uttered. Mrs. .E. 0. Blamires spoko of her exporienco as a mission sister in England nnd New Zealand, which hnd brought her into contact with many homes of tho worst as well as tho best kind. She pleaded with the young men before her to act always so as to uplift and ennoble womanhood and motherhood.

A solo was sung by Miss Ward. Nearly everyone at the meeting wore ii white "buttonhole," which has been adopted as tho embiem of "Mother's Day."

Many of those present stayed to the "Strangers' Tea." Over 100 sat down at the tables, including 30 from foreign countries.